Wondering how the wealthiest in the world live? Below are five of the most expensive homes of 2013.

1. Antilia

Image via: Houses

This skyscraper home is the most expensive in the world. The house, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, is 27 levels high in the heart of Mumbai, India.  With double- or triple-height levels,  the structure is equivalent to a 40-story building.

The home, which has entire floors dedicated to gardens and pools, offers every amenity today’s modern billionaire could wish for. That includes three helicopter pads, several underground levels of parking, and a staff of more than 500 people to keep everything up, running, and spotless. The building alone itself is worth $1 billion.

2. Heath Hall

With 14 bedrooms, a cinema, gym, and tennis court, Heath Hall is one of the priciest homes in Great Britain. Golden wood floors, rich wood paneling, and relaxing white furnishings complete the luxurious interior. The gated grounds, located in the Hampstead Heath, one of the wealthiest areas of the United Kingdom, offers plenty of stunning views of the surrounding landscape. In early 2013, the house reached a market value of approximately $130 million after the owner put another $60 million into renovations.

3. Copper Beech Farm

Dating back to the 1890s, the Copper Beech Farm, located off Long Island Sound, includes two of its own private islands. Its antique design includes a kitchen with a dumbwaiter in the basement and a sleeping porch for cooler summer sleeping before the days of air conditioning. The mansion hit the market with a price tag of $190 million, not including the cost of renovations.

4. Hearst Castle

Image via: Stuck in Customs

Built for the American newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst, this Californian castle takes the cake for its number of bedrooms: a total of 29 bedrooms, with three swimming pools for guests to enjoy. The indoor pool has the feel of an Arabian palace with its mosaics, while the outdoor Neptune Pool has prominent Greek architecture.

The dining hall, however, looks like it came out of a medieval castle, complete with a stone floor that is strikingly similar to options at Prosource Flooring in Toronto.

The castle also has a claim to fame for its role in the Godfather movies and its use as the late John F. Kennedy’s honeymoon destination. Today, the castle is worth $165 million.

5. Villa Leopolda

Image via: Flickr

Built for the Belgian King Leopold II’s mistress, this villa stands on the French Riviera outside the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Stone lions guard the oval outdoor pool, while porticos and gardens look out on the Mediterranean Sea from the heights of the hills. The home was recently purchased by a Russian billionaire for $750 million.

Know of another expensive home or know how to copy the luminous look of these homes’ décor or flooring? Let us know! 

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